Absorbent article with improved leakage protection

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an absorbent article for taking up body fluids, with a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a crotch portion (8) and two end portions (6, 7), and having side edges (9, 10) extending in the longitudinal direction and end edges (11, 12) extending in the transverse direction, and comprising a liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) and a liquid-tight cover sheet (3), and an absorbent body (4) arranged between the cover sheets (2, 3), and further comprising barriers which are arranged along the side edges (9, 10) of the article and which are raised up from the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2). The liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) has a central zone (30) which is arranged essentially in the crotch portion (8) of the article, and two end zones (31, 32) which are arranged at the end portions (6, 7) of the article, the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) being more hydrophilic in the central zone (30) than in the end zones (31, 32).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an absorbent article for taking up bodyfluids, with a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a crotchportion and two end portions, and having side edges extending in thelongitudinal direction and end edges extending in the transversedirection, and comprising a liquid-permeable cover sheet and aliquid-tight cover sheet, and an absorbent body arranged between thecover sheets, and further comprising edge barriers which are arrangedalong the side edges of the article and which are raised up from theliquid-permeable cover sheet.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Absorbent articles intended for taking up body fluids areconstant targets for improvement, particularly with respect to leakageprotection. A problem particularly associated with absorbent articlesintended for incontinent adults is that of leakage due to the fact thatlarge amounts of liquid are eliminated during a short period of time. Inthis connection, it may happen that not all the liquid has time topenetrate into the absorbent article, and instead some of the liquidflows out across the surface of the article and gives rise to leakage.In the context of diapers too, leakage can occur on account of the factthat a large amount of liquid impacts the article in a short time. Aparticular concern in connection with diapers for infants is the leakageof excrement. Since infants often have very free-flowing stools, theseoccur as a liquid and can easily run out over the edge of the diaper.Such leakage of excrement is particularly unpleasant, and the stainswhich occur on the soiled clothes and bedlinen are very difficult towash off.

[0003] A liquid-absorbing article such as a diaper or incontinenceprotector is usually provided with elastic members. These elasticmembers have two main functions. On the one hand, they are used to shapethe absorbent article in order to maintain a good fit of the article tothe shape of the user's body, and, on the other hand, they are used tocreate different types of leakage protectors. For example, most diapersare provided with elastic members along the side edges, as a result ofwhich elastic, sealing and leakage-tight leg bands are obtained once thediaper is placed on the user's body. It is also possible to createliquid-collecting depressions, pockets and raised barriers by arrangingelastic members on an absorbent article.

[0004] It has also been proposed to provide absorbent articles withother types of barriers which are raised from the surface of the articleand which prevent uncontrolled flow of liquid across the surface.Examples of non-elastic barriers are material folds and corrugations,built-up banks or the like. In addition to guiding and controlling theflow of liquid on the surface of an absorbent article, such raisedleakage barriers can also be arranged along the side edges of thearticle in order to prevent liquid from leaking out of the article.

[0005] Patent Specification SE-C2 502 818 describes a liquid-absorbingarticle intended for single use, such as a diaper, a sanitary towel orthe like. The article described has an essentially elongate shape andcomprises an absorbent body and a cover enclosing the absorbent body,with a liquid-permeable inner sheet and an outer sheet. The articlefurther comprises contracting elastic members connected to at least onesheet.

[0006] A further problem which arises when using absorbent articles isthat the body fluids taken up by the article come into contact with theuser's skin and can thus give rise to skin irritation. If the absorbentarticle contains excrement, it may also be desirable to keep theexcrement at a distance from the user's body, since this considerablyfacilitates cleaning of the user's pubic area when the article is to bechanged.

[0007] Thus, Patent Specification WO 95/10993 already discloses adisposable diaper with improved ability to keep bodily excretions awayfrom the user's skin, which diaper comprises a sheet which protects theunderwear, a liquid-permeable surface material, an absorbent elementplaced between the protective sheet and the surface material, and aliquid-tight nonwoven covering which has an opening in the crotch area,and with edge portions around the opening in the liquid-tight nonwovencovering forming sealing flaps around the opening.

[0008] For the diaper to be able to absorb bodily excretions morequickly and to be able to retain these in a more effective manner, WO95/10993 proposes that the absorbent element has an absorbent sheet onwhich a spreading sheet is arranged and that the dimensions of theopening in the nonwoven covering are smaller in the longitudinal andtransverse directions than the corresponding dimensions of the spreadingsheet. The disposable diaper described in WO 95/10993 is said tocomprise elastic means at the edges of the opening in the nonwovencovering and along the longitudinal outer edges of the diaper.

[0009] However, despite all efforts to prevent leakage when usingabsorbent articles, it still happens that liquid leaks out from thearticles, principally at their end edges. Thus, there is still a greatneed for further improved leakage protection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to make available aliquid-absorbing article for disposable use in which the risk of leakagepast the end edges has been substantially reduced.

[0011] An article designed according to the invention and of the typeset out by way of introduction is distinguished primarily by the factthat the liquid-permeable cover sheet has a central zone which isarranged essentially in the crotch portion of the article, and two endzones which are arranged at the end portions of the article, theliquid-permeable cover sheet being more hydrophilic in the central zonethan in the end zones.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, raised edgebarriers are arranged along at least one end edge of the article.

[0013] The raised edge barriers can, for example, be formed by materialfolds in the liquid-permeable cover sheet, or they can be formed byseparate material pieces which have been applied on the liquid-permeablecover sheet. The edge barriers can comprise absorbent material such asabsorbent fibre material, superabsorbent material, absorbent ornonabsorbent foam material, fibre wads, or the like. The raised edgebarriers can further comprise elastic members which help to raise thebarriers from the liquid-permeable cover sheet and which also affect theshaping of the absorbent article. The elastic members can in this casebe present in the form of elastic bands or filaments which, for example,have been arranged inside material folds or have been secured to thebarriers, for example, by adhesive bonding or welding. It is alsopossible to form edge barriers made entirely of elastic material, forexample bands of elastic foam material, or nonwovens.

[0014] To achieve a good barrier effect, it is preferable for the raisededge barriers to comprise material which withstands liquid penetration.Such material can be a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, plastic film, or acoating of plastic, wax or the like.

[0015] The raised edge barriers can be made from one and the samematerial layer which is arranged across that surface of theliquid-permeable cover sheet which, during use, is intended to bedirected towards the user. Such a barrier sheet is in this case providedwith an opening through which liquid can pass into the article. Aroundthe opening, the barrier sheet extends contiguously along the side edgesand end edges of the article, as a result of which a pocket-like spaceis formed between the edge barriers and the liquid-permeable coversheet.

[0016] To achieve a difference in hydrophilicity between the centralzone and the end zones of the liquid-permeable surface material, theliquid-permeable surface material can have different materialcompositions in the central zone and the end zones. For example, theliquid-permeable surface material can consist of a fibre material inwhich the central zone comprises a greater proportion of hydrophilicfibres than do the end zones.

[0017] Another way of achieving the difference in hydrophilicity betweenthe central zone and the end zones of the liquid-permeable surfacematerial is by the fact that the liquid-permeable surface materialconsists of an essentially hydrophobic material which has been treatedto obtain hydrophilicity in the central zone. For example, the centralzone can be treated with surfactants or other wetting agents.

[0018] The hydrophilic central zone of the liquid-permeable surfacematerial can be centrally arranged in the longitudinal direction of thearticle. Alternatively, the central zone of the liquid-permeable surfacematerial can be arranged slightly offset towards one end portion of thearticle. The hydrophilic central zone can extend out to the side edgesof the article or end slightly inside of these.

[0019] It has been found to be preferable for the central zone of theliquid-permeable surface material to have an extent in the longitudinaldirection of the article corresponding to 25-75% of the length of thearticle, and an extent in the transverse direction of the articlecorresponding to 60-100% of the width of the article.

[0020] An absorbent article according to the invention is moreoveradvantageously provided with at least one elastic member, which isprestressed and in direct contact with the absorbent body, and extendsin an arcuate curve across the absorbent body, between the side edges ofthe article.

[0021] By combining raised edge barriers with a liquid-permeable coversheet which has a central zone with greater hydrophilicity than in theend zones on both sides of the central zone, it has been found to bepossible to achieve very high leakage protection. The leakage protectionafforded by an article according to the invention is thus greater thanwould have been expected on the basis of the leakage protection affordedby an article with only raised edge barriers, or with only a hydrophiliccentral zone.

[0022] An article without raised edge barriers and with aliquid-permeable sheet which has a central, hydrophilic zone andsurrounding zones which are more hydrophobic affords considerably lessleakage protection than a corresponding article with a surface layerwithout hydrophobic end zones. It is therefore particularly surprisingthat it is possible to improve the leakage protection of an article withraised edge barriers by using a liquid-permeable surface sheet withzones of different hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The invention will be described in greater detail below withreference to the illustrative embodiments which are shown in theattached drawings, in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an incontinence protector according toa first embodiment of the invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the incontinence protector inFIG. 1, as it appears when the elastic members have been allowed tocontract,

[0026]FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a diaper according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an incontinence protector according toa third embodiment of the invention, and

[0028]FIG. 5 shows a section along the line V-V through the incontinenceprotector in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The incontinence protector 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises aliquid-permeable cover sheet 2, arranged on that side of theincontinence protector 1 which during use is intended to be directedtowards the user, a liquid-tight cover sheet 3, arranged on that side ofthe incontinence protector 1 which during use is intended to be directedaway from the user, and an absorbent body 4 enclosed between the twocover sheets 2, 3.

[0030] The material of the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 can be, forexample, a perforated plastic film, a netting of plastic or textilematerial, a nonwoven material, or a laminate of two or more suchmaterial layers. The plastic materials which are used in theliquid-permeable surface material are generally thermoplastics such aspolyethylene or polypropylene. Suitable nonwoven materials can comprisenatural fibres, such as cellulose or cotton, or synthetic fibres, suchas polyethylene, polypropylelne, polyester, polyurethane, nylon orregenerated cellulose. It is also possible to use nonwoven material madefrom fibres with two or more components, and mixtures of different typesof fibres.

[0031] The liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 will admit liquid and conveyit towards the absorbent body 4. Moreover, the cover sheet 2 should beable to prevent so-called re-wetting, that is to say when absorbed bodyfluid passes back out of the absorbent body 4, and it should be soft andcomfortable against the user's body.

[0032] The liquid-tight cover sheet 3 is made of a liquid-impermeablematerial. Thin, liquid-tight plastic films are suitable for thispurpose. However, it is also possible to use material which isliquid-permeable to begin with, but which has been provided with acoating of plastic, resin or other liquid-tight material. In this way,leakage of liquid from the underside of the absorbent article isprevented. The liquid-tight cover sheet 3 can thus consist of anymaterial which is compatible with the skin and satisfies the criterionof liquid impermeability. Examples of materials which are suitable asliquid barrier layer are plastic films, nonwoven materials, and varioustypes of laminates. Plastic films that can be used are, for example,those consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester.Alternatively, the liquid-tight cover sheet 3 can consist of a laminateof a liquid-impermeable plastic sheet, directed towards the absorbentbody, and a nonwoven layer directed towards the user's underwear. Such aconstruction provides a leakage-proof barrier layer with a textile feel.

[0033] The absorbent body 4 can advantageously be made up of cellulosefluff pulp. This can be provided in the form of rolls, bales or sheetswhich are dry-defibred and converted in fluffed form to a pulp web, withor without admixture of so-called superabsorbents which are polymershaving the ability to absorb several times their own weight of water orbody fluid. Examples of other materials that can be used are varioustypes of natural fibres, such as cotton fibres, peat or the like. It isof course also possible to use absorbent synthetic fibres or mixtures ofnatural fibres and synthetic fibres. The absorption material can alsocontain further components, such as liquid-spreading members, orbinders, for example thermoplastic fibres which have been heat-treatedto bind short fibres and particles together in a coherent unit. It isalso possible to use various types of absorbent foam materials in theabsorbent body 4. The absorbent body 4 can consist of a continuous sheetor can be made up of a plurality of different sheets or parts. Theabsorbent body 4 can also be profiled, i.e. it can be made withdifferent thicknesses in different parts of the incontinence protector.

[0034] The two cover sheets 2, 3 are connected to each other outside theabsorbent body 4 and form a projecting edge 5 around the entireperiphery of the incontinence protector 1. The cover sheets 2, 3 can bejoined together in any suitable way, for example by means of adhesivebonding, sewing, or welding with heat or ultrasound.

[0035] The incontinence protector 1 is slightly asymmetrical, butessentially hourglass-shaped, and it has a front portion 6, which duringuse is intended to be facing forwards on the user, and a rear portion 7,which during use is intended to be facing rearwards on the user, and anintermediate narrower crotch portion 8 intended to be arranged at theuser's crotch. The incontinence protector 1 additionally has twoinwardly curved side edges 9, 10, and two outwardly curved end edges 11,12. The absorbent body 4 has approximately the same shape as theincontinence protector as a whole, but it has a slightly lesser extentin the plane. In particular, the absorbent body 4 is narrower than thetwo cover sheets 2, 3 at the crotch portion 8, as a result of which thecover sheets 2, 3 form flexible side flaps 13, 14 on both sides of theabsorbent body 4 in the crotch portion 8.

[0036] The division of the incontinence protector 1 into two endportions 6, 7 and a crotch portion 8 must not be understood as meaningthat there are sharp boundaries between the various portions 6-8, but ismainly intended to facilitate the description of the incontinenceprotector 1, with the starting point of the differences which existbetween the various portions 6-8 as a function of how they are intendedto be placed in relation to the user's body. Thus, the transitionbetween the various portions 6-8 does not take place at definedtransverse lines, but instead within diffuse transitional areas. Thecrotch portion 8 here constitutes that part of the incontinenceprotector which during use is intended to admit and absorb most of theeliminated body fluid.

[0037] A barrier sheet 15 is arranged outside the liquid-permeable coversheet 2, on that side of the article which is intended to bear againstthe user's body. The barrier sheet 15 has the same extent and shape inits plane as the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 and is fixed to thelatter, by adhesive bonding, welding or the like, inside the projectingedge 5.

[0038] The barrier sheet 15 is preferably made of a thin, easilyflexible and skin-compatible material. Thus, the materials and materiallaminates mentioned in conjunction with the two cover sheets can beused. The barrier sheet 15 advantageously has a certain ability towithstand liquid penetration, as a result of which liquid which hascollected inside of the sheet 15, between this and the liquid-permeablecover sheet 2, is prevented from passing out through the sheet. However,it is advantageous for the barrier sheet 15 to be able to breathe andallow vapour and gases to pass through.

[0039] To achieve liquid resistance and increased leakage protection,the barrier sheet 15 can be treated with means imparting hydrophobicity.Examples of means imparting hydrophobicity which can be used are thincoatings of plastic, wax or the like. Alternatively, the barrier sheetcan comprise a layer of hydrophobic nonwoven material, or plastic film.

[0040] The barrier sheet 15 can alternatively comprise athree-dimensional perforated film which only allows liquid through inone direction. It is thereby possible to obtain a barrier sheet 15 whichis able to admit liquid which impacts the barrier sheet 15, without theliquid thereafter being able to pass out again through the sheet 15.

[0041] The barrier sheet 15 is provided with a through-opening 20 viawhich liquid can pass into the incontinence protector 1. Running alongthe longitudinal edges 21, 22 of the opening there are elastic members23, 24 which are intended to contract the edges 21, 22 of the opening20, so that these edges are raised from the liquid-permeable cover sheet2 and a continuous raised barrier 25 is formed along the side edges 9,10 of the incontinence protector and also along its end edges 11, 12. Byvirtue of the fact that the barrier sheet 15 is fixed along the edges9-12 of the incontinence protector 1, a pocket-like space is formedbetween the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 and the barrier sheet 15.

[0042] The elastic members 23, 24 also serve to create a flexible sealbetween the barrier sheet 15 and the user's body. The contraction of thematerial around the opening 20 is achieved by means of the elasticmembers 23, 24 being prestressed. Prestressing can be obtained by meansof the elastic members 23, 24 being stretched out and secured to thebarrier sheet 15 in the stretched-out state. Alternatively, the elasticmembers 23, 24 can consist of a material whose elastic contraction isactivated after application to the barrier sheet 15. Such activation canbe achieved, for example, by heating or by infrared radiation.

[0043] Elastic members 27, 28 are moreover arranged in connection withthe absorbent body 4. A first elastic member 27 is arranged across thefront portion 6 of the incontinence protector, between theliquid-permeable cover sheet 2 and the absorbent body 4. The firstelastic member 27 extends in an arc directed towards the front edge 11,between the side edges 9, 10 of the incontinence protector.Correspondingly, a second elastic member 28 is arranged across the rearportion 7, in an arc towards the rear edge 12. The second elastic member28 extends between the absorbent body 4 and the liquid-permeable coversheet 2 and onwards into the side flaps 13, 14 which are formed by theprojecting cover edge 5 on both sides of the absorbent body 4 in thecrotch portion 8. Those parts of the second elastic member 28 which arearranged in the side flaps 13, 14 thus form the leg elastic of theincontinence protector.

[0044] The elastic members 27, 28 are arranged in direct connection tothe absorbent body 4 in such a way that contraction of the elasticmembers 27, 28 also causes contraction and shaping of the absorbent body4.

[0045] In the example shown, which is a preferred embodiment, theelastic members 27, 28 are connected to the liquid-permeable sheet 2, onthe inside thereof, i.e. between the absorbent body 4 and the coversheet 2, but they can of course alternatively be arranged on the outsideof the sheet 2 or between the liquid-tight cover sheet 3 and theabsorbent body 4.

[0046] The elastic members 23, 24, 27, 28 consist, for example, of oneor more bands of elastic material such as rubber, polyurethane, elasticnonwoven, or the like. The elastic members can be provided with aspun-round sheath which makes it easier to connect the elastic membersby means of binder to components in the incontinence protector. Inaddition, such a sheath permits elastic movements in the elastic core.The elastic members 23, 24, 27, 28 tend to contract, and the elasticfilaments or bands are for this purpose arranged with a certain amountof prestressing, as has already been described in connection with theelastic members 23, 24 which are arranged on the barrier sheet 15.Anchoring is achieved, for example, by means of adhesive binder which isapplied on certain sections of the length of the elastic or along itsentire length. The elastic members 27, 28 are preferably anchored bothto the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 and to the absorbent body 4.

[0047] According to an alternative embodiment, the elastic members 23,24 fixed to the barrier sheet 15 can be omitted. In this case, acompletely or partially elastic barrier sheet can be used instead. It isalso possible to arrange a continuous elastic member around the wholeopening 20.

[0048] According to the invention, the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2has a central zone 30 and two end zones 31, 32 which are situated at theend portions 6, 7 of the incontinence protector 1. Within the centralzone 30, which is situated in that area of the incontinence protectorwhich is intended to admit most of the body fluid excreted to theincontinence protector, the liquid-permeable cover sheet 2 has a greaterhydrophilicity than parts surrounding the liquid-permeable cover sheet2. Thus, both the end zones 31, 32 are more hydrophobic than the centralzone 30.

[0049] As can best be seen from FIG. 1, the central zone 30 consists ofa rectangular area with a width corresponding to the minimum width ofthe absorbent body in the crotch area 8. In the longitudinal directionof the incontinence protector, the central zone 30 extends a distanceinto each end portion 6, 7, where the central zone is surrounded by themore hydrophobic end zones 31, 32.

[0050] The diaper 301 shown in FIG. 3 has in part a different structurethan the incontinence protector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, thediaper 301 in FIG. 3 also comprises a liquid-permeable cover sheet 302and a liquid-tight cover sheet 303 which are connected to each other atan edge 305 around an absorbent body 304 enclosed between the coversheets 302, 303.

[0051] Like the incontinence protector in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaper 301in FIG. 3 can be divided into a crotch portion 308, a front end portion306 and a rear end portion 307. The diaper also has two longitudinalside edges 309, 310 and two transverse end edges 311, 312.

[0052] The diaper 301 also has a two-part barrier sheet 315′, 315″ whichis provided with longitudinal elastic members 323, 324. The two parts315′, 315″ of the barrier sheet extend along the side edges 309, 310 ofthe diaper, the entire length of the diaper, and are fixed to theliquid-permeable cover sheet 302 by adhesive bonding, welding or thelike within the projecting edge 5 along the side edges 309, 310 and theend edges 311, 312.

[0053] The elastic members 323, 324 are fixed in the prestressed statealong the free edges 321, 322 on the barrier sheet 315′, 315″. Thismeans that when the elastic members 323, 324 are allowed to contract,they also contract the free edges 321, 322 of the barrier sheets 315′,315″, whereupon the rest of the diaper is curved in a direction awayfrom the barrier sheet 315′, 315″ so that the parts of the barrier sheetform raised edge barriers 325′, 325″ along the side edges 309, 310 ofthe diaper. As has already been described in connection with FIGS. 1 and2, the material in the barrier sheet 315 should preferably be chosensuch that liquid is prevented from passing through the edge barriers325′, 325″.

[0054] The diaper in FIG. 3 is of the type which, during use, isfastened together in a pants shape around the lower part of the user'strunk. For this purpose, the diaper is provided with fastening membersin the form of self-adhesive tapes 333, 334 which, before use, arefolded in across the liquid-permeable cover sheet 302 of the diaper andfixed in a releasable manner to attachment surfaces 335, 336 withrelease characteristics. The tapes 333, 334 are arranged on the sideedges 309, 310 at the rear portion 307 of the diaper, near the end edge312. When the diaper is being used, the tapes 333, 334 are folded outfrom the attachment surfaces 335, 336 so that the adhesive on the tapes333, 334 is exposed. The tapes are then secured on a receiving area 337arranged on the front portion 306 of the diaper. The receiving area 337is situated on the outside of the liquid-tight cover sheet 303 and cansimply constitute a part of this sheet. However, the liquid-tight coversheet 303 is generally reinforced or otherwise treated in the receivingarea in order to permit release and re-sealing of the tapes 333, 334and/or in order to avoid the cover sheet 303 from being tom by theforces transmitted via the tapes.

[0055] To improve the fit and the attachment of the diaper to the shapeof the user's body, elastic members 327, 328 are arranged along thefront and rear end edges 311, 312, respectively. The elastic members327, 328 are prestressed, for example between the cover sheets 302, 303of the diaper, and form an elastic waist band during use. Suitableelastic members are bands, threads, etc., as has previously beendescribed.

[0056] The liquid-permeable cover sheet 302 of the diaper 301 has acentral zone 330, a front end zone 331 and a rear end zone 332. Thematerial in the central zone 330 is more hydrophilic than the materialin the end zones 331, 332.

[0057] Both the central zone 330 and the end zones 331, 332 extend alongthe entire width of the diaper, between the side edges 309, 310, andthey thus form transverse zones across the surface of the diaper.Moreover, the central zone 330 is situated slightly nearer the front endedge 311 of the diaper than the rear end edge 312.

[0058] The incontinence protector 401 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 alsocomprises a liquid-permeable cover sheet 402 and a liquid-tight coversheet 403 which are connected to each other at an edge 405 around anabsorbent body 404 arranged between the cover sheets 402, 403

[0059] The incontinence protector 401 is hourglass-shaped and has anarrower crotch portion 408 and wider end portions 406, 407. Theincontinence protector also has longitudinal side edges 409, 410 andtransverse end edges 411, 412.

[0060] Longitudinal folds in the liquid-permeable cover sheet 402 formraised edge barriers 425′, 425″. As has already been discussed inconjunction with the barrier layer 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it isadvantageous for the material in the edge barriers 425′, 425″ to besufficiently hydrophobic to prevent liquid penetration through thebarriers 425′, 425″. Alternatively, the barriers can comprise furtherbarrier sheets, for example of plastic film, or can be coated withliquid-tight material.

[0061] The liquid-permeable cover sheet 402 is made up of two differentmaterials, of which a first material forms an oval central zone 403which is more hydrophilic than the surrounding liquid-permeable coversheet material which forms two end zones 431, 432. As can be seen fromFIG. 4, the end zones 431, 432 constitute parts of a continuous materialsheet 440 with an oval hole, to the edges of which the more hydrophilicmaterial in the central zone 430 is attached. The parts included in theliquid-permeable cover sheet 402 can be joined together in any waysuitable for the purpose, for example by adhesive bonding, or welding.FIG. 5 shows that the material in the central zone 430 is fixed to theoutside of the more hydrophobic material sheet 440. Outside is hereunderstood to mean that surface of the more hydrophobic material sheet440 which is directed away from the absorbent body 404. However, it isalternatively possible to arrange the central zone 430 in such a waythat it is fixed to the inside of the more hydrophobic material sheet440.

[0062] By means of the fact that the more hydrophobic material sheet 440is continuous along the side edges 409, 410 of the incontinenceprotector 401, the edge barriers 425′, 425″ can be formed as continuousfolds in the more hydrophobic material sheet 440. It is of courseadvantageous for the edge barriers 425′, 425″ to be made of a relativelyhydrophobic material, as in the material sheet 440, since this meansthat the barrier effect is thereby more pronounced than when thebarriers 425′, 425″ have been made from the more hydrophilic material inthe central zone 430.

[0063] The incontinence protector 401 is of the type which is securedinside the user's underwear, and it is for this purpose provided with afastening means 441 in the form of a self-adhesive coating on theliquid-tight cover sheet 403.

1. Absorbent article for taking up body fluids, with a longitudinaldirection, a transverse direction, a crotch portion (8) and two endportions (6, 7), and having side edges (9, 10) extending in thelongitudinal direction and end edges (11, 12) extending in thetransverse direction, and comprising a liquid-permeable cover sheet (2)and a liquid-tight cover sheet (3), and an absorbent body (4) arrangedbetween the cover sheets (2, 3), and further comprising barriers whichare arranged along the side edges (9, 10) of the article and which areraised up from the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2), characterized inthat the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) has a central zone (30) whichis arranged essentially in the crotch portion (8) of the article, andtwo end zones (31, 32) which are arranged at the end portions (6, 7) ofthe article, the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) being more hydrophilicin the central zone (30) than in the end zones (31, 32) and wherein thedifference in hydrophilicity between the central zone (30) and the endzones (31, 32) of the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) is obtained bythe fact that the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2) consists of anessentially hydrophobic material which has been treated to obtainhydrophilicity in the central zone (30), the central zone (30) of theliquidpermeable cover sheet (2) having an extent in the transversedirection of the article corresponding to 60-100% of the width of thearticle.
 2. Absorbent article according to claim 1, in which the raisededge barriers comprise elastic members (22, 23).
 3. Absorbent articleaccording to claim 1 or 2, in which the raised edge barriers comprisematerial which withstands liquid penetration.
 4. Absorbent articleaccording to claims 1, 2 or 3, in which raised edge barriers arearranged along at least one end edge (11, 12) of the article. 5.Absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which theraised edge barriers are made of one and the same material layer (15)and extend contiguously along the side edges (9, 10) and end edges (11,12) of the article, as a result of which a pocket-like space (25) ispresent between the edge barriers and the liquid-permeable cover sheet(2).
 6. Absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims,in which the central zone (30) of the liquid-permeable cover sheet (2)has been treated with wetting agent.
 7. Absorbent article according toany one of the preceding claims, in which the central zone (30) of theliquid-permeable cover sheet (2) is centrally arranged in thelongitudinal direction of the article.
 8. Absorbent article according toany of claims 1 to 6, in which the central zone (330) of theliquid-permeable cover sheet (302) is arranged slightly offset towardsone end portion (306) of the article.
 9. Absorbent article according toany one of the preceding claims, in which the central zone (30) of theliquid-permeable cover sheet (2) has an extent in the longitudinaldirection of the article corresponding to 25-75% of the length of thearticle.
 10. Absorbent article according to any one of the precedingclaims, in which at least one elastic member (27, 28) is prestressed andin direct contact with the absorbent body (4), extending in an arcuatecurve across the absorbent body (4), between the side edges (9, 10) ofthe article.